The Sim racing is phenomenal and great experience. The workers were super friendly and…read moreknowledgeable. They provide support with all driving styles and racing maps. The place is a bit small but amazing for small gatherings. I highly recommend this place for all race driving.

This was an amazing experience! Having spent time in real track vehicles with dog boxes and that…read morehard, aggressive shifting, I can say this simulator truly captures the same adrenaline-pumping feel. It's about as close to 1:1 with the real thing as you can get--aside from not having A/C, of course. The staff here are super friendly, and the facility itself is top-notch. Whether you're serious about training to become a professional or just looking for a fun outing, this beats a traditional arcade racer by miles. Highly recommend checking this place out!

Spent way too long trying different options to get the cyber Monday deal to work. Frustrating…read more Emailed them 3 days ago about and no response. God forbid you buy and have issues. No cs.

I was a DIRTY DIRTY girl today! I also learned what a Dirty Sanchez is (thanks to the large team…read morename in front of our group), then I proceeded to strip down to my birthday suit in the parking lot and get my ass rinsed out - so all in all today was quite an interesting day to say the least. Spring Break at the Lake was crazy! My first and I think I went about it as well as a virgin mud runner could, being the prissy beeotch that I am on occasion - I was a bit scared to totally trash my legs crawling on my knees over the rocks so I did my best to not come out bruised and bleeding - I wore shorts and the scrapes are very minimal but I can see how you can really get severely wrecked on the course and obstacles if you are going balls to the wall out there. I wore a bikini under my shorts and tank and my vibrams which proved to be a pretty solid choice. The mud pits were insane fun but nerve wrecking to me at the same time - having never experienced a mud run I am SO lucky Rich J. was there to hold my hand through almost every single pit - with drop offs in the pits, I was terrified each time we were in one (I guess I didn't want to encounter any injury that would prevent me from my real running and workouts) but at the same time it was an unforgettable fun experience. The polar plunge was crazy freezing - this way out did any ice bath I've ever taken in life - holy shit!!!!! I can't wait to see the pictures as there was no way in hell I was able to get any - I'm pretty sure the Go Pro cams hold up well out here but we didn't have ours with us today and everything else was checked in with bag check (which was well organized) - thank god! We had been there since 9A since the group packets I had paid to be mailed to us never arrived and we had to deal with same day pick up. Timed Teams in the 10A wave seemed to take forever to start - we were 10-30 which didn't start until after 11A. I'm not sure if the goal was to start in waves each minute of the hour but it didn't go off that smoothly and everyone was pushed back a bunch. The finisher medals are pretty sweet! Parking was $10 cash Customer service ended up proving to be completely useless and downright rude in the end when I reached out to them Tuesday before the race to ask why we had never received the shipment I paid to be mailed to our group. Not cool! I wouldn't necessarily recommend this exact mud run due to some of the organizational issues but I'm pretty certain I'd be up for another mud run in the future.

One of my favorite food and spirit festivals. We came sober and left full and drunk. There were…read moreso many different tastings. My favorite was affogato and vodka. The food was all really good. We came in an uber. The dock next to the yachts was pretty cool with caviar tasting. We will be back next year. Happy Yelping!

This event is super luxurious! Where else are you going to try out 90+ wines, drink $50+ Wisky,…read morefollowed by seafood tastings such as scallops, foie gras, and melt in your mouth beef dishes with live jazz playing in the background and have the opportunity to become a home version of the Top Chef? Wait there's more. The all inclusive ticket also lets you mingle with Star Chefs such as Hubert Keller, Rick Bayless, and Rick Noonen. You also get your very own Riedel wine glass for the tastings. Joseph Phelps, Pipillon, St. Supery? These aren't second labels and also if you scour carefully, there were some boutique wineries present that had stunning wines! Of course there were tons of food, love Anqi's crab dish, Driftwoods Porchetta, B candy's rainbow bright mini cake, braised beef cheeks from chef JoJo from the Honda Center, Buttercake from Mastros, Clubster roll from SlapFish....tons of rediculous good stuff! You get to lounge on oversized sofas overlooking the swirly building that of the Civic Center. There were also beer/vodka/tequila/non alcoholic drinks available. Super fun event, would HIGHLY recommend taking people who enjoy food and wine pairings to the next level.

One of the best courses I have ran yet. Very well organized. And plenty of volunteers ready and…read morewilling to help out. The pre race bib pickup was well organized despite the rainy weather. The shirt and medal are very nice! Shirt quality is on point and the medal is huge! It incorporated the Tustin hanger as well and has some other great features. Also very heavy!!!:))) This is my third time running the race. Twice running the 5k. And once running the half marathon. I'm never worried about parking as their is plenty of it. The course is well marked as well as the support stations are everywhere! Breathtaking run, never gets boring and Tustin police really help out keeping runners safe. I look forward to next years race! Thanks again to all the volunteers, police, EMT's, chamber of commerce members, sponsors, and of course the runners !

I did not have high expectations since the was inaugural race and in my experiences, race…read moreorganizers learn over time. This was not the case here, super organized, easy parking, race day pick up, well marked course, plenty of support stations, nice finisher's shirt and medal. A fairly flat course that's out and back where you could expect a PR.

Running through the OC Fair instead of having a deep fried Oreo? Yes, please! Most fun 5k ever…read more.. 5 stars!!!!! What makes the OC Fair 5k Fun Run true to its name is the 5k course with its fun detours along the way! Yes, you probably will not set a new PR for a 5k if you're doing the fun detours, but the run will definitely be not as fun without them. Although for some, running through the actual fair grounds may be fun enough! Kudos to the race organizers for making most of the course take place inside the OC fair grounds. For 2019, the fun detours involved shooting a basketball, breaking a plate, shooting a ping pong ball in cup, and going on the actual stage of the Pacific Amphitheater. So excited that my aim was just right, and I broke a plate! Not a just a 5k medal gets added to my medal collection, but also a pretty cool donut pineapple plush!!! The fun run takes place at 8 am on a Sunday, and since the fair is not yet open to the public, there's free parking for 5k runners. Race bib and t-shirt pickup is also available on race morning, which is a big plus! There was a water station available in the middle of the course, and bottled water, snacks, and fruit were given out at the finish line. It was my very first OC Fair 5k Fun Run, and I found it well organized with lots of friendly volunteers and staff. A major bonus of the fun run is being able to see the animals and plants in the Centennial Farm area after the race. Centennial Farm is directly adjacent to the finish line area. Although, I'm not too sure if there will be access available next year or in future years. The Centennial Farm staff were happily greeting runners in the area while OC Fair security officers were making announcements that the fair is not yet open and that runners cannot be in the area. Luckily, the Centennial Farm staff won the disagreement/miscommunication while we there! Definitely cool to see the animals and plants without huge crowds. The highlights were getting to see the newly born piglets and calves, taking a selfie with a friendly cow, as well as getting a brilliant idea for an old and nonworking wheelbarrow! Having done a number of 10ks, half marathons, and a couple of full marathons, I have stated to friends and family that I can't see myself ever paying for a 5k again because it's just too short of a distance. The OC Fair 5k Fun Run has changed my mind.

This is my favorite 5k that I look forward to every summer in August…read more My early memories are of running through bbq smoke (but not in current years) and the smell of farm animals (every year). The course starts out in the parking lot and makes its way inside the fair for a good distance before ending back at the main gate area. If you're running this race straight through without stopping for the Detours of Fun, you're just not a fun person. These are optional stops at a couple of carnival games where you might win a stuffed toy. The Euro Slide was once a fun detour but now taken off course *sad face*. The last of these detours is the Pacific Amphitheater where you can get your photo taken on stage. It will be posted to download for free but you have to sift through the photos to find on your own. After the run, I usually stay at the fair for the day but there is some wait time before the fair officially opens. What's included: - bib pickup and free parking on event day - in 2019, a tech shirt (moisture wicking fabric) - finisher's medal You also get a ticket to come back to the fair but not many days remain before the fair is over. Since I've participated every year since they started, I have to say I miss how there used to be two 5k's, one on the opening weekend and one at the closing weekend of the fair which came with a Super Pass (season pass for the duration of the fair).

I did it :D my first half marathon, and I couldn't have picked a more magical way to do it than…read moreRunDisney's Halloween weekend at Disneyland Most of my training happened on the treadmill, which honestly taught me a lot about consistency and mental endurance. I followed the official RunDisney training program from their website and trusted the process--even when life was busy and motivation was low. Race morning was early (very early), but the energy, costumes, music, and Disney magic made every mile worth it. Running through Disneyland in the dark, then heading outside the parks with rolling hills, the heat that I did not prepare for was challenging--but unforgettable. These are the things that really helped me: 1. Enlist a buddy to do it with you. I somehow managed to persuade my oldest son to come with his mama. My son who is in his prime, who at the time just came back from officer training school (boot camp). He was jumping, singing, running circles around me during the race, yelling out motivational pep talks. It was kinda annoying and motivating at the same time. 2. Use the free pacers There are multiple pacing groups, and sticking with one helps you stay calm, consistent, and confident. It really helped to see a whole group pushing through. Being next them reminded me about Dory..."Just keep swimming... Just keep running!" 3. Arrive early + move up in your corral We arrived around 4:15 AM, which gave us time to settle in and get closer to the front of the corral--huge stress reducer. 4. Stay close to the start line if possible We stayed at a hotel near the start, walked over, and later met my hubby near the mall. Less logistics = less stress. 5. Go to the Expo on Day 1 Exclusive merch sells out fast (RIP glow-in-the-dark shoes). The expo is free, fun, and has lots of freebies. Pro tip: go again on the last day for sales. 6. Practice in your costume This is non-negotiable. What feels cute for 10 minutes may not feel cute at mile 9. I practiced in my Ursula costume a handful of times. I saw people ditching parts of their costumes. 7. Hydration is covered Water and electrolytes are provided on course. I didn't need to carry water, but some people prefer to--do what works for you. 8, Know the course You start inside Disneyland, then head outside the parks where the hills show up. Save your energy for those miles. 9. Pictures Make sure your number is visible. Photos come free with it. There a a good number of photo opp in the parks. Unfortunately we couldn't stop since we were the last coral. So we did "passing" video shots. You should practice doing this. 10. Volunteers The volunteers outside of Disney were awesome! Seeing the signs, hearing the encouragement, and grabbing the sweets helped a ton. Soak it in and it will keep you motivated I discovered that I hate running long distance. At the same time I also realized I like doing it at Disney and after the race I told my son lets do the Dopey Challenge next. Where you run the 5k, 10 k and half marathon all in the same weekend. Of course my sweet son replied, "sure thing mom as long as your paying." This race reminded me that you don't have to be perfect--you just have to..... "just keep running, just keep running, running....running". If you're thinking about doing a RunDisney race, especially your first half marathon, do it. Train smart, trust the plan, and soak in every magical mile.

Just when we were in the swing of having them back, they're gone again. With the upcoming…read moreconstruction, it was announced there were not going to be anymore races for the foreseeable future here on the West Coast. This was the last race on Feb1 as the 5k and 10k took place the prior days. From what I gather from others, this can take many years to come back. I believe this was a new half marathon course at least new to me since the Star Wars Half days. This course was very refreshing, the stretch of it on Anaheim Blvd, running past the Packing District and the Ducks ice rink. The good thing about the "out and back" parts is seeing if you can spot the "balloon ladies" if it's a concern or maybe friends who run at a different pace or checking out their fits. I appreciated the DJ's and bands out there. They brought the energy! Everything was just so cute with the "It's a Small World Theme" but maybe I'm biased because I happen to love the color purple as in the bib, medal, and long sleeve tech t-shirt. It delighted me to see several runners dressed in this theme because I'm not creative enough to assemble my own costumes. PhotoPass photo opportunities were inside the park and some at the reunion area. These digital photos are included in registration and show up in the app same day. I must say the finish line replica photo op in the reunion area was a time consumer in the hot sun. Powerade was the electrolytes on course. I was wondering how they were able to get the taste and concentration consistent to realize they were being poured from the plastic bottles. Not too much to sample or any freebies at the expo if you compare that with other major race expos. The post-run snacks are not much nor memorable unless you count that nacho-like cheese from the box. IYKYK Yes, you pay a pretty penny just to participate but only you put a value on this experience. I would say if you're a Disney fan and have the means, to just do it one time for the experience but that dream has run out luck on this coast for now.

The 119th annual Hungtington Beach 4th of July Block Party will run from Friday June 30th - Tuesday…read moreJuly 4th 2023. The very first celebration was started way back in 1904, just a few years before the city became incorporated. And since then, this holiday weekend event brings about 1/2 million guests to the party from all around OC, and LA. The first day starts off with a band staged at the corner of Main Street and PCH. This section of the street will be blocked off, with signs along the intersecting streets alerting more street closures in the following days. Over the weekend there will be a parade, a 5K run and the fireworks show on the 4th of course. There will be lots of venders and food trucks, and then the bands. It's definitely a great way to celebrate the 4th at this beach block party.

Rocking it at Irvine Regional Park continues Rock It Racing's awesome trail racing challenge: The…read moreRock It Fall/Winter Series! Concentrating my efforts more on upon the trail this year and less upon the asphalt, I lace up--even if it means shortening my distances, even if it means muddying up a pair of Brooks, and even if it means trudging through uneven stretches of trees and bush with sometimes no other runners in sight. However, that's the beauty: getting away from the city streets and getting back to nature. Rock It Racing offers four very cool trail runs: Caspers 5k/12K, Whiting Ranch 5K/12K, Irvine Regional Park 15K/5-Miler, and El Moro Canyon 6K/10-Miler. Running at least 3 of the 4, qualifies you for the special Rocky Series Award, plus a stylish ​Rock It Racing trucker hat! I'm down! (While I've finished the Series and already snagged my very cool Rocky Series Award and trucker cap, I'll be sure to complete all four runs anyway, ending at El Moro Canyon next month.) Mostly flat, without the inclines you'd come upon at Caspers and Wilding, Irvine Park was my third Rock It race (I ran the 5-mile) and it was a blast! Like the other races, there were times when the trail narrows to single lanes, but that's part of the intrigue, part of the beauty. Navigating through groves of heritage Oak and Sycamore trees, you'll find the course a little challenging at times; however, the variety of landscape--Irvine Regional truly is beautiful!--serves, if anything else, as an enhancement to your run. I love it here.

First off... Thanks Shanon Y for inviting and having me to be your partner and letting me…read moreexperience this Color Run for the first time! Parking was crazy...Jammed pack from exiting the freeway and entering the parking lot. Funny thing is that there's no handicap parking even if you have the handicap sign. Despite the parking, I'd always wanted to experience a 5k run, however, I never thought my first would be almost everyone 'walking' when it's suppose to be 'The Color RUN'. There were blue, yellow, pink, purple and orange station (let's hope I did not forget a color) but as we went through each, some were 'running' out of color to throw because they were running low so had to use the time to 'refill'. So much for being covered with all the colors. Good thing was that there was a water station. The volunteers handed us the water as we pass by. The ONLY good thing about the run was the after party. We were pretty hyped up for that instead. Covered in lots of color. Barrels of colors were being switched so all the people can throw it everywhere. The after party was poppin! NOTE: You will def. get DIRTY. If you are planning to bring your phone, best to keep it in a Ziploc bag. AND bring extra clothes and baby wipes to clean yourself up before you enter your or someone's car. Trust me, you will thank me. Will have to see if I'll experience it again. It WAS a bit disappointing with the non running and running out of color at some stations.

Review for The Color Run SoCal 2013 held on Saturday May 11, 2013…read more BREAKDOWN: Wait long to get into parking, long walk into event, start line is always letting people go in waves, walk, walk, walk, get splashed with powder, walk, walk, smell manure, walk, get splashed with yellow powder, take pictures with your camera phones, walk, water station!! walk, get splashed with orange powder, walk, walk, walk, get splashed with pink powder, walk, you can see the finish line! Walk, wog, jog, wog some more, finish line!!! yaaay. Now what? OH! There's a DJ playing some fun tunes, they throw out colored powder packets, then everyone throws them into the air. Get freebies, go to the merchandise store, take pictures, more pictures, high five your friends, get a free air blow to get some of the dust off, and begin the trek back to you car. By the way, please take notice of a clear landmark. By the time you begin to go back to your car, cars are gone and there are lines of cars leaving and things don't look the same. The most important thing you must know about this event held at The Great Orange Park: GET THERE EARLY!!!!!!!! I cannot stress that enough! I exited the freeway around 7:15 and it took me about an hour to get into the parking lot, then another 20-30 minutes to get into the event to get to the start line. Granted, The Color Run (which I will know abbreviate as TCR) has groups go in waves, so it's ok if you're late, but if you're meeting up with friends (like I was) it's not too cool to make them wait so long for you. Plus it's frustrating to be sitting in your car trying to get in. In the meantime, make a party of it in your car. Play some upbeat music, take selfies, and just hurry up and wait. Now, as for the event itself, don't expect it to be some hardcore, awesome race. This isn't the L.A. Marathon or a 10K. It's a flippin 5K and the whole point is to have some fun with friends and get doused with colored powder. There's music going on, give-aways (I'm still upset I didn't get my free Victoria's Secret color run drawstring sack :( but I'm sure someone has to be selling one on Ebay!), TCR store, etc. Portapotty's weren't too disgusting, or maybe I just got lucky. As for the location itself, it's next to a manure plant. Yes. Manure. So during certain portions of the 5K, you got a lovely whiff of processed cow dung. Kinda gross. Also the park itself looks like an abandoned air field. The view was not scenic at all. I felt at times like I was on a march versus a fun event. It's out in the open and there isn't much to look at except each other or others running by. Thankfully I was with a large fun group and we kept it interesting. A 5K isn't too bad, but if you know you're not a fit person or the most walking you do is from your couch to the bathroom, then be prepared. You might get tired. But it's doable. I saw a woman with lymphatic condition (he legs were extremely huge) and she did it! I saw people in wheelchairs too. Lots of people went the extra mile and dressed up, wore tutus, rocked a few wigs, some wore coordinated outfits and accessories. I saw people of all ages, both genders, groups, couples, families with kids and some with babies (why?? I don't know.) I had fun. I definitely recommend going with friends. You don't have to run it, as with most 5 Ks. Running is optional. The majority walked TCR. When we saw people running, I asked "Where are they running to??" I registered early and made a team, so we all got in on the fun for $30 ! Not too shabby. I was able to pick up my entire team's packets two days before the race. Each packet came with a color run t-shirt, a bib, safety pins, a wristband, color run tattoo, directions, a colored powder packet. I would definitely do TCR again! I had a great time and so did all my friends. Next time I'll leave at 5:30 though HAHA. TIPS FOR ANY COLOR RUN: - bring your shades even if it looks cloudy - bring sunblock even if it looks cloudy - bring a slim fanny pack or drawstring sack for your stuff or leave your things at their check-in locker area - bring a large towel to sit on because the color WILL get on your cars interior (unless you really could care less!) - bring some sandals to slip on for the drive home - bring some all purpose wipes or baby wipes to clean up - bring a snack for the drive home or the long wait to get out of the parking lot

Today was the 27th annual Corona del Mar Scenic 5K, and I set out with fellow Yelpers Lisa V,…read moreMonica P, and Robert C to run the race and enjoy some yummy food after we were done. This was my 5th year in a row participating in this event, and I always enjoy it, even though it's a very challenging course. So I should say that I sometimes ask myself why I torture myself this way WHILE I'm running it, but AFTER I'm done, I feel happy and invigorated that I conquered the challenge. One unique aspect of the Corona del Mar Scenic 5K is that there is a separate men's and women's race. The men always start first, so we ladies get to relax a little and cheer on the gentlemen. Then in return, they get to watch us when their race is over. BF did a good job of going from place to place during today's race and got to see me twice while I was running and then again right before I crossed the finish line. The race is indeed scenic and winds throughout the neighborhood. You see beautiful homes, cute parks, and an amazing ocean view. My only complaint this year, and hence the 4 stars instead of 5, was that there was no more water available after the women's race. That's just bad planning. The line for the food area moved fairly quickly, and we sampled a lot of delicious treats, including breakfast burritos from Avila's El Ranchito, tacos from Islands, pizza from Gina's, salmon pate and scones with lemon curd from Five Crowns, Chinese chicken Salad from Bamboo Terrace, and creme brule from Quiet Woman. I think the Yelp gang was happy to actually eat the creme brule instead of hearing me talk about it the last few weeks. As we enjoyed our post-race meal, we enjoyed the scenery and watched the awards presentation. Those who placed in the top 3 of their age groups received a really nice plaque. BF got 2nd place in his age group. Woo hoo! I'll be there again next year! (I just hope the water situation is fixed, Mr. or Ms. Chamber of Commerce).

This wasn't the 27th annual CdM 5K...I think we are into the 30's somewhere by now...but I'm too…read morelazy to add a new event, so just think "2012" instead of "2008". I am not a runner, per se (*"per se" - a latin term meaning "He's old, fat and slow"), but I run quite a bit anyway. It's a lifestyle choice. And by "lifestyle" I mean that I need to run off all the stuff I eat and drink, or my lifestyle will be "death". In that spirit, I occasionally run in events like this...for the fun of it, for the healthy "lifestyle" it promotes and for the swag (technical fabric t-shirt this year...nice!). The CdM 5K is one of the nicest runs in the good old US of A! I rank the CdM 5K right up there with the Starlight Run in Portland (during the Rose Festival...the only chance most of us will ever have to run a foot race cheered on by 500,000 people). Not because there are so many people running and cheering for the CdM 5K, but because the course, the views, the local environment, the runners, the spectators, the post-race buffet breakfast and the overall "vibe" of this little jog are are almost too good to be believed. I registered online and dropped by the Oasis Senior Center (for which I am membership eligible, although I refuse to do so at the moment...still feeling young, thanks) to pick up our race packets and swag bags...easy squeezy! My adorable daughter, Whitney, moved to Coastal OC in the past week (really, who wouldn't want to live close to parents as "interesting" as the Beautiful Carin and I?) and she ran the 5K with me! We were solidly mid-pack of the 2-3,000 participants (although I did better my time from last year by a solid 2 minutes...I'm not only getting older...I'm getting better...ish). We had a great time and Whitney really enjoyed her first event as an official resident of OC...I look forward to many more of these events with her! If you ever wanted to try to jog one of these kinds of events, (or do the 2K walk or just drop by and look at lovely neighborhood and beautiful vistas), this is the one for you! You won't find a more welcoming group of people, a more helpful and pleasant race staff or a better venue for 5K than this one. And while I didn't avail myself of the post-race buffet at the finish line this year (although it did look awesome), my post race bloody mary and chicken fried steak retox at Cappy's was truly sublime! And that's why I run.